Synonyms

upend

American

[uhp-end] / ʌpˈɛnd /

verb (used with object)

to set on end, as a barrel or ship.
to affect drastically or radically, as tastes, opinions, reputations, or systems.
to defeat in competition, as in boxing or business.

verb (used without object)

to become upended.
to place the body back-end up, as a dabbling duck.

upend British

/ ʌpˈɛnd /

verb

to turn or set or become turned or set on end
(tr) to affect or upset drastically

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of upend

First recorded in 1815–25; up- + end ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In January 2025, Chinese startup DeepSeek shook the tech world with a low-cost, high-performance reasoning model that upended assumptions of US dominance in the sensitive sector.

From Barron's

Better performance from defense companies is a worthy goal, but as the largest customer, the Defense Department could build in other pricing or performance incentives, without upending decades of capital market practice.

From Barron's

It’s the latest plot twist in a takeover battle that is expected to upend the Hollywood pecking order.

From Barron's

But unless the courts are willing to upend clear precedent, none of these defenses will save him.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023